Although he never held an official political title, Ayatullah Ruhullah Khomeini ruled Iran with an iron fist from the moment he set foot on Iranian soil on Feb. 1, 1979, after 14 years in exile.

Khomeini's Long Shadow: 30 Years After the Iran Hostage Crisis

A look back at the tumultuous events of February 1979, when the charismatic religious leader returned to Iran and single-handedly reshaped the history of the Middle East — and the world.

From TIME's Archives: On the Plane Back with Khomeini

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